Natural born bowler

Glenn McGrath is applauded by his team-mates at the Gabba

BBC Sport Online's Jonathon Moore profiles Australia's Glenn McGrath.

Few bowlers instil as much fear into a batsman as Australia's premier paceman Glenn McGrath.

Renowned the world over as a ferocious competitor, his 6-17 against West Indies on Thursday effectively wrapped up the Test on the opening day.

  McGrath fact-file

Born: 09/02/70

Awards: Wisden Cricketer of the Year - 1998, Allan Border Medal - 2000

Test wickets: 294

One-day wickets: 183

With 294 wickets to his name, McGrath is already Australia's third highest wicket-taker. Only Shane Warne (366) and Dennis Lillee (355) stand above him, though few would now bet against the 29-year-old reaching the 300-mark before the week is out.

For many, McGrath is already a living legend and according to Lillee should already be firmly regarded as one of the world's greats.

"He has done it in, or against, all countries now and keeps on doing it consistently," Lillee recently said.

McGrath's strike rate of one wicket every 22.02 balls compares favourably to Lillee, who took a wicket every 23.92 balls in his 70-Test career.

Meteoric rise

Hailing from New South Wales, McGrath took over the mantle of Australia's main strike bowler during the remarkably successful tour of the Caribbean in 1995.

Replacing Craig McDermott, he slipped into the position with ease, an extraordinary feat considering his meteoric rise.

He won his first state cap (in 1992-93) a bare five years after first taking up the sport and then progressed to Test level in merely his eighth first-class appearance.

Fancy a bat?

Nevertheless, with ball in hand he looked a natural and, more often than not, has thrived under the pressure of needing to make regular breakthroughs.

With an action that is often described as 'unremarkable', McGrath exerts a wonderful control over the ball. He swings it both ways, cuts it off the pitch and attacks batsmen on and just outside the line of off-stump.

His destruction of England's Ashes challenge, where he picked up 24 wickets, effectively earned him the title of Wisden's Cricketer of the Year in 1998.

And last year he notched up a 30 wicket haul in four Tests against West Indies at just 16.93 runs apiece.

The performance was made all the more remarkable considering leg-spinner Shane Warne's lack of form.

Four times McGrath took five wickets in an innings and he once claimed 10 wickets for the match.

His overall tally left him three short of the Australia-West Indies record. Opposing captain Brian Lara was the first to lead the accolades.

''His performance was something to behold, it was just a tremendous effort,'' he said.

'Over-worked'

This year, McGrath's fine form has continued. He has been named Australia's top cricketer for the second year running and he also picked up the prestigious International Players award for Cricketer of the Year.

Needless to say, he is a man in much demand. And for some, it is precisely that which could spell his downfall.

Former Australian paceman Bruce Reid, whose own career produced 113 wickets in 27 Tests before it was blighted by injury, said the level of commitment being asked of McGrath was simply too much.

"When Shane Warne was at the top of his game, he would bowl the majority of the overs and look what happened to him," Reid said.

"It takes a lot out of you when you're made to bowl two spells in a session - and that's what's happening to Glenn on a regular basis."